The European Parliament has voted to ban all Russian gas imports by 2027, aiming to cut off funds for Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
STRASBOURG: The European Parliament has given final approval to a landmark law banning all imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027.
Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the measure during a plenary session on Wednesday, clearing the last major hurdle for its official adoption.
“This is historic: the EU is taking a giant step towards a new era free of Russian gas and oil,” said Ville Niinisto, a Finnish lawmaker and one of the text’s chief sponsors.
The legislation was adopted with 500 votes in favour, 120 against, and 32 abstentions.
It aims to break the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy, a dependency that has persisted despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Under the new rules, long-term pipeline gas contracts will be banned from 30 September 2027, provided EU storage levels are sufficient.
For liquefied natural gas (LNG), long-term contracts will be prohibited from 1 January 2027.
Short-term contracts will be phased out earlier, with bans starting on 25 April 2026 for LNG and 17 June 2026 for pipeline gas.
Operators who violate the ban will face financial penalties.
The law now requires a final sign-off from EU member states, which is considered a formality.
